Are We On a Long Thing?

“We are on a long thing”, this was DJ Zeez’s comment last night (13th March) on the Nigerian Idol show, where he made the comment after Naomi Mac’s electric performance of Kalif Keita’s ‘Africa’. According to him, “Why are we wasting time? We already have a winner”. While the audience were trying to recover from the performance, DJ Zeez went ahead to give her a standing ovation, which stirred up another session of applause from the audience. Jeffery had earlier commended her performance but Audu who was really tough on the contestants admitted that he was disappointed with Naomi’s first performance of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s song ‘Lady’ however he commended her performance of ‘Africa’.

The show is getting hotter as it draws to an end, last night’s theme was ‘AFRICA’ with the contestants expected to perform songs by Legendary African Musicians. Each contestant performed two songs each which kept the audience entertained.

Yeka Onka’s first performance was Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s ‘Umqobomthi’ while her second one was Angelique Kidjo’s ‘Wombo Lombo’. She didn’t fail to impress the audience. Jeffery commended her performance while also referring to her as the ‘African Whitney’. Though Yinka didn’t pass any comments, Audu didn’t fail to tell her that the he preferred the second performance.

Emmanuel also performed two songs; the first was ‘Sweet Mother’ by Prince Nico Mbarga while the second was K’naan’s ‘Waving Flag’. Even though his first performance was wonderful, his second was a bit disappointing. Trust Audu to give it to him, he told him without mincing words that he was not representing the men well. Yinka tried to soften things a bit by saying it was a fair performance while DJ Zeez noted that he tried to spice the song too much. Jeffery however did not agree without his fellow judges, he commended Emmanuel on his perfecting the art of working the stage and the crowd but also told him he needed to see more of Emmanuel’s vocal power.

Now we have three contestants left, one to go this week and less than three days to decide. While we wait for Thursday, are we really on a long thing?

Enjoy Baby's Hysterical laughter

This morning is one of those days I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Here I was, looking for something to cheer me up when I stumbled on this video http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/8765597/24384316 .

I hope this adds colour to your day.

Source: Yahoo

Photo credit: Perszyk.com

Who will be the First Nigerian Idol?

If you didn’t watch Nigerian Idol yesterday, then you definitely missed the show of a lifetime. You may agree with me that so far, this reality show has lived up to expectations. Last Sunday, it took a truly Nigerian twist, with the contestants performing various songs by Nigerian musicians.

The show started as usual with Anis introducing the judges – Audu Maikori, Yinka Davies, and Jeffrey Daniel and of course, the celebrity judge Waje, a talented female Nigerian musician who collaborated with MI on the fantastic ‘One Naira’. The contestants then performed I.K. Dairo’s, ‘Mosorire’ as a group.

After the group performance, Glory performed Sir Victor Uwaifo’s ‘Joromi’ to the admiration of both the judges and audience. Next, it was Bibi’s turn and she didn’t let her fans down with her performance of ‘Oruka’ by Sunny Neji. Emmanuel, who happens to be the last man standing (wearing a costume he made himself) thrilled the audience by singing ‘Olomi’ by Tosin Martins, his performance was so romantic, especially when he crowned it by giving a rose to one of the ladies in the audience.

The highlight of the show for me was Naomi’s performance of ‘Seun Rere’ by Christy Essien Igbokwe, her delivery of that song was so steaming that she received a standing ovation from the audience. The judges were very impressed and Waje even commented that she felt honoured to judge Naomi.

The last to perform was Yeka who sang Onyeka Onwenu’s ‘Halleluyah Chime’ to the delight of the audience.

The contestants have done their part, I have made my choice and I’m voting. Who will be the first Nigerian Idol? It’s up to you, keep voting.

Photo: d-finitivemedia.blogspot.com

I FEEL SO MUCH RELIEF

Sometime in 2008, my organisation moved some staff to its Victoria Island office while the business was being expanded and believe me when I say it was not an easy move, especially for me because. Ask me why behind the camera. Lol! I had to leave home at 5:45am to be able to make it to the office before 8am everyday. God help me if I leave home at 6am, then I'll get to the office at about 9am. The earliest I got home was 8pm.

The good news now is that I've been relocated to one of our mainland offices. Though I still wake up at my usual time, 4:30am (to pray and put myself in the mood for work), I don't even take my bath until about 6:30am and I still get to work before 8am. Phew! so much relief for me. Isn't it just wonderful? Now I look forward to going to work.

LOOKING IT WITHOUT BEING IT?

I've been thinking lately about the theory that as soon as you go on a diet, everyone around you is eating. Are you wondering about it too? Anyway that's how I feel right now about being pregnant and ugly. Everywhere I go, I see people eating or looking pretty.

Recently, my bishop challenged the women in my church about the way we package ourselves. Boy! Was he blunt? He told us without mincing words that we looked old and ugly, that we had potential but don't Maximise it. Those of us who were already overweight received most of the tongue-lashing. If the truth be told, I believe we all knew it even before we were told but the issue here is, disciplining the body. I know I will look younger and more beautiful, yes MORE BEAUTIFUL if I skip my supper at least but when I do that I wake up the following morning feeling lousy. The trick now is how do I look pretty without being it until my baby comes?

Suggestions please?

Oh Gosh!

When I started this account, I thought I was going to be saying everything and nothing. But look at me, my last blog was in July. When will I have more time to do the things I really would like to do?

Catch you, I hope soon enough?

STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Hi Guys,

You know what they say about not getting rich working for other people? Sooo, I've been thinking what I should do for extra income. Recently, in my church's (The Communion Church) Prayer Conference with the theme 'Pushing Boundaries', Dr Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase, one of the guest speakers challenged us to do other things apart from our regular jobs and to start with something we have passion for.

So I decided to explore one of my interests which happens to be baby clothes. I also noticed that there are a lot of things that aids your business. an example is the Facebook Market, where I advertised my business.

Find the advert below;

For Sale:

Children's Clothes.

Why? To give mothers-to-be and shop owners the opportunity to buy children's clothes at exciting prices.

Category:	Stuff : Baby & Kid Stuff
Description:	Are you pregnant and wondering how to shop on a low budget or are you looking for where to buy clothes for children from 0 months to 5 years to resell? Please call 08035789896.

Jonathan for 2011 Presidency: To Be or Not To Be?

Photo: Asukwo.EB

What is the Ideal Age for Marriage?

Photo: Asukwo. EB

Hi Magazine's June 2010 Cover

Ibidun Ighodalo of Elizabeth R


Photos: Hi Magazine

Venus Williams, Tennis and a Lacy Dress

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, Venus William can decide to change careers anytime without batting a lash. She arrived for her first round match against Patty Schnyder of Switzerland at the French Opens Tennis Championship in a black lace dress with bright red trimmings on her bodice.

Despite her choice of attire, Williams who usually comes to a match with eight or 10 outfits won the match against Schnyder 6-3, 6-3 at the Roland Garros Stadium on May 23, 2010 in Paris.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Elton John's letter to Ryan White, 20 years after his death from AIDS

Twenty years ago this month, you died of AIDS. I would gladly give my fame and fortune if only I could have one more conversation with you, the friend who changed my life as well as the lives of millions living with HIV. Instead, I have written you this letter.

I remember so well when we first met. A young boy with a terrible disease, you were the epitome of grace. You never blamed anyone for the illness that ravaged your body or the torment and stigma you endured.

When students, parents and teachers in your community shunned you, threatened you and expelled you from school, you responded not with words of hate but with understanding beyond your years. You said they were simply afraid of what they did not know.
When the media heralded you as an "innocent victim" because you had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, you rejected that label and stood in solidarity with thousands of HIV-positive women and men. You reminded America that all victims of AIDS are innocent.

When you became a celebrity, you embraced the opportunity to educate the nation about the AIDS epidemic, even though your only wish was to live an ordinary life.
Ryan, I wish you could know how much the world has changed since 1990, and how much you changed it.

Young boys and girls with HIV attend school and take medicine that allows them to lead normal lives. Children in America are seldom born with the virus, and they no longer contract it through transfusions. The insults and injustices you suffered are not tolerated by society.

Most important, Ryan, you inspired awareness, which helped lead to lifesaving treatments. In 1990, four months after you died, Congress passed the Ryan White Care Act, which now provides more than $2 billion each year for AIDS medicine and treatment for half a million Americans. Today, countless people with HIV live long, productive lives.

It breaks my heart that you are not one of them. You were 18 when you died, and you would be 38 this year, if only the current treatments existed when you were sick. I think about this every day, because America needs your message of compassion as never before.

Ryan, when you were alive, your story sparked a national conversation about AIDS. But despite all the progress in the past 20 years, the dialogue has waned. I know you would be trying to revive it if you were here today, when the epidemic continues to strike nearly every demographic group, with more than 50,000 new infections in the United States each year. I know you would be loudly calling for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy that was promised by President Obama but has not yet been delivered. I know you would reach out to young people. I know you would work tirelessly to help everyone suffering from HIV, including those who live on the margins of society.

It would sadden you that today, in certain parts of the United States, some poor people with AIDS are still placed on waiting lists to receive treatment. It would anger you that your government is still not doing enough to help vulnerable people with HIV and populations that are at high risk of contracting the virus, including sexually active teenagers. It would upset you that AIDS is a leading cause of death among African Americans.

It would frustrate you that even though hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive Americans are receiving treatment in your name, more than 200,000 don't know their HIV-positive status, largely because a lingering stigma surrounding the disease prevents them from being tested. It would disappoint you that many teenagers do not have access to science-based HIV-prevention programs in school, at a time when half of new infections are believed to be among people under 25.
I miss you so very much, Ryan. I was by your side when you died at Riley Hospital. You've been with me every day since. You inspired me to change my life and carry on your work. Because of you, I'm still in the struggle against AIDS, 20 years later. I pledge to not rest until we achieve the compassion for which you so bravely and beautifully fought.

Your friend,
Elton

Sir Elton John, a Grammy- and Academy Award-winning artist, is the founder and chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

KATE HENSHAW-NUTTAL (K8HN)

Hello! It's been a while I blogged, I've been so so busy. But I wrote an article that was published recently and thought it would be nice to share.

If you are having a boring day or a highly stressed on at that. Don't worry, follow this link and start your weekend on a cool note with Kate Henshaw-Nuttal.

Modest, pretty and friendly, Kate Henshaw-Nuttall is one actress who made a great debut into Nollywood. She became an instant celebrity when she starred as ‘Omono’ in a major Nollywood movie titled ‘When the Sun sets’. Kate auditioned for that movie in 1993 and would have given up before getting the chance to partake in the auditions; however, fate was a step ahead of her. According to her, hungry and tired, waiting to be auditioned, she decided to go get a drink and then leave when Reginald Ebere, a popular director and producer who was also a member of the panel stopped her from leaving. Her appearance in When the Sun Sets marked a turning point in her life. For more http://www.myhimagazine.com/film/off-the-record-with-kate-henshaw-nuttal/

Minority Births Tipped to outnumber White Births in U.S.

The number of children born to minorities in the U.S. is increasing by the number. According to an Associated Press (AP), minorities make up nearly half the children born in the U.S., part of a historic trend in which minorities are expected to become the U.S. majority over the next 40 years. Currently, whites make up two-thirds of the total U.S. population, and recent census estimates suggest the number of minorities may not overtake the number of whites until 2050.

The report highlights immigration to the U.S. as one factor that has boosted the number of Hispanic women in their prime childbearing years. Minorities made up 48 percent of U.S. children born in 2008, the latest census estimates available, compared to 37 percent in 1990. The numbers they say highlights the nation's growing racial and age divide, seen in pockets of communities across the U.S., which could heighten tensions in current policy debates from immigration reform and education to health care and Social Security. For more information visit http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_white_minority

Benny Hinn’s Wife Files for Divorce

I received the shocking news last night that Pastor Benny Hinn’s wife of over 30 years had filed for a divorce. Suzanne Hinn filed a petition for divorce in Orange County Superior Court on February 1, citing irreconcilable differences.

A statement from Benny Hinn Ministries revealed, "Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news on February 17 without any previous notice.”

According to the ministries all efforts by Pastor Hinn to bring healing to their relationship failed, leading to the divorce petition. The actual reason for the petition still remains unknown.

While assuring partners and friends of Benny Hinn’s dedication to God’s calling, the ministry also calls for prayers as they go through this trying period. "Both Pastor Hinn and the board of directors of the church ask for the prayers of ministry partners and friends as the Hinn family walk through this difficult season. Pastor Hinn also wants everyone to know that he remains firmly and unquestionably committed to God's calling—as he continues in his thirty-sixth year of ministry—to take the life-saving and miracle-working Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations through crusades, broadcasts, and mission outreaches."

WORKOUTS WITH DUMBBELLS

I'm about to get a second pair of dumbbells because the one I currently use is too heavy and I can't seem to do a lot with it. While waiting to get it, I decided to get a few more tips on what to do with the weights. If you're interested follow this link http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/dumbbellexercises.html

Governor Peter Obi Wins Anambra Polls

“Peter Obi… having satisfied all requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner,” said chief returning officer Josiah Uwazuruonye. And so the incumbent governor of Anambra State was declared winner of the Anambra polls.

Obi who contested on the platform of APGA won by taking 13 out of the 21 LGAs in Anambra state with a total of 97,843 votes, ahead of his closest contestant Chris Ngige, from the Action Congress opposition party, who had 60,240 votes. Former Central Bank Governor Chukwuma Soludo came third with 59, 755 votes.

Mr Obi is yet to make a public speech. For more http://saharareporters.com/real-news/sr-headlines/5075--governor-peter-obi-declared-winner-of-anambra-polls.html

http://www.usafricaonline.com/anambra-gov-peter-obi-affirmed-by-inec-as-winner-of-governorship-election-amidst-tales-of-voting-logistics-problems/

My Eventful Morning with a Samanja Wanna-Be

I boarded a LAGBUS headed to CMS from Festac town this morning on my way to work. As I was minding my business (trying to catch up on some sleep), I was suddenly woken up by a sudden jerk of the bus. Then I heard driver of the bus talking in a loud voice saying, “…What is wrong with people sef. People are not just patient, see this man. So because he doesn’t want me to enter his front, e dey enter bush”. Before I could digest this, a dark middle-aged man in plain clothes brandishing a walkie-talkie came to harass the driver. Before the driver could say anything, this ‘so-called’, self-acclaimed military man got angry, raining insults on the driver, threatening to deal with him. While this was going on, all the passengers in the bus including me asked the driver to ignore the Samanja wanna-be so we could continue on our way to walk. But since the man would not stop harassing the driver, he lost his cool and started trading words with.

The driver finally heeded our advice and stopped talking. But Samanja was not yet done, he got into his Toyota 4 Runner with car registration number BW 616 KTU blocked our bus, got out, went the policemen by Orile Police Station and asked them to arrest the driver of our bus. When we saw the policemen heading for our bus, we were happy thinking we would finally get justice but to our surprise, the policemen came and instructed our driver get out of the bus. Before we could say Jack, on-lookers had gathered, watching; a soldier was by the driver’s door trying to force the door open.
At this point, the passengers lost their cool and insisted that the driver would not open the door. A few guys in the business actually volunteered to run the bus over the car. Thank God they did not succeed. When Samanja saw that the passengers were not bulging and we were not ready to listen to the policemen’s pleas to us asking the driver to come out of the bus (to be beaten by the soldiers that had started gathering); and there was no way him and his cronies would lay hands on the driver, he shamefully got into his car and drove off.

Though Samanja didn’t have the last laugh, he succeeded in reminding us-citizens- how lawless Nigeria can be because while this was going on, traffic was being held up and I can bet you that over half of the passengers got to work late this morning.

You know what was really ironical, Samanja who would not allow one bus go before him ended up allowing dozens of cars go while wasting the time he was supposed to have saved (watch video and photograph of one policemen asking the driver to get out of the bus). What foolishness!

Pastor Mrs Eky Otum - A vessel of Honour

At exactly 3pm on Friday, 29th January 2010 I received a text message from Ese Ibude. I quickly opened it to read expecting to receive the news that she had a found a child-minder for my baby. Instead I received the rudest shock in my life, I physically jumped from my seat. The message? “PASTOR EKY DIED LAST NIGHT. SO SAD”. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I thought I had gone past the stage where the news of death shocks me. But believe me, this one did.

Pastor Mrs Eky Otum used to be my former parish pastor at The Communion Church, Covenant Parish (former Upper Room Parish), she was my parish for more than 5 years and those years really made me mature as a christian. As young teenage christians, she made us so accountable to her that she was almost like God to us. In those days, you would never dare to disobey your parents or do something that would make anybody report you to her. She not only used to preach to us but made sure we were trained to do as she had said. I remember her telling us to serve God while we were young and had no cares because we would grow older and regret not having seved God in our youth; today I look back and thank God I followed her advice.

Pastor Otum had so much passion for women cannot be quantified; In her lifetime, she showed so much love to widows, single and married women, even teenage girls had a place in her heart. She even founded a ministry with the mission of making women Vessels of Honour. I remember the last time I was under her ministration; that was a few months before my wedding. She had some ministers come to talk to us about preparing ourselves to be the kind of wives God expects us to be.

There so many thing I would want to say about her but I find I’m not really do that now. Even if I’m not going to add any other thing to this piece, I have not forgotten her cooking- those days in the prayer band when we fast for days and break with a banquet.

Pastor Mrs Eky Otum is now with God! And I ask myself, if it had been me, would that have been my testimony? She was like Dorcas in the acts of the apostle, fulfilling ministry. My answer? I still have ministry to fulfil.

The Durella Sneakers

Hi People,

I have been kind of upset lately with the state of affairs in Nigeria, what with so many things going wrong. However, I decided to look on the bright side and put up a positive attitude. Now that I am praying more fervently for Nigeria to get better; and have suddenly realised that with the president missing in action and his vice not being allowed to act in his stead, we and I mean it, we all (me, you) are now our own presidents. Now being a president to myself, it suddenly dawned on me that I owe a lot to myself i.e. MY AGENDA! I wonder, how many points will it be?

While I'm trying to decide that, I saw an advert that really tripped me. Guess what it was? THE DURELLA SNEAKERS! Nigerian Musician Oluwadamire Okulaja popularly known as Durella a.k.a. King of the Zanga is out with his own shoe line or is it sneakers. Nigerians are really running things. That is what a positive attitude does for you. Meanwhile a little bird told me a pair of it costs N25,000. Did I hear somebody say that's kind of expensive. Well, that topic is for another day.

With so much happening these days and celebrities coming up with their own perfume, clothing , shoe, etc lines. Who knows what is coming next? It may be you Mr/Mrs/Miss President.